In more than 580 entries, the historical and cultural narratives of Latinas come to life. From mestizo settlement, pioneer life, and diasporic communities, the encyclopedia details the contributions of women as settlers, comadres, and landowners, as organizers and nuns. More than 200 scholars explore the experiences of Latinas during and after EuroAmerican colonization and conquest; the early-19th-century migration of Puerto Ricans and Cubans; 20th-century issues of migration, cultural tradition, labor, gender roles, community organization, and politics; and much more. Individual biographical entries profile women who have left their mark on the historical and cultural landscape.
With more than 300 photographs, this three-volume encyclopedia offers a mosaic of historical experiences, detailing how Latinas have shaped their own lives, cultures, and communities through mutual assistance and collective action, while confronting the pressures of colonialism, racism, discrimination, sexism, and poverty.
Vicki L. Ruiz is Professor of History and Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine.. She and Virginia Sánchez-Korrol were honored with a "21 Leaders for the 21st Century" award by Women\'s eNews. Ruiz is president of the Organization of American Historians.
Virginia Sánchez-Korrol is a historian and Professor in the Department of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College, City University of New York.
This work was published in print format in 2006.